"I've been thinking about American history a lot in the development of these works because we're now living under full-on fascism here, she said. I've been thinking about the kind of art that's made under fascism."
"Leigh said she had been shocked by the complicity of some US institutions as the Trump administration conducted its anti-woke' attacks, saying the situation was reminiscent of the McCarthy era."
"I don't know if you noticed what happened really early on with Columbia [University]. They were almost doing a prophylactic fascism'. They weren't even waiting to be told to expel students and put down all protests I guess you would have to go back to a McCarthy era to see this kind of obedience. All institutions are under attack, she added. I know of artists who have signed contracts to do commissions and these commissions have been either stalled or cancelled for anti-DEI reasons. So it's really happening I'm more than concerned, it's getting a little scary."
The Royal Academy will host Simone Leigh's first major UK exhibition in September 2027 featuring a series of new monumental works. The exhibition will address themes of architecture, art produced under fascist conditions, and Leigh's connection to the UK through her Jamaican heritage. Leigh has expressed alarm about rising fascism in the United States and cited institutional complicity during recent anti-‘woke’ campaigns. She reported that some artist commissions have been stalled or cancelled for anti-DEI reasons. Leigh's career rose rapidly over the past 15 years from ceramics work often dismissed by critics to prominent public recognition.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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